Key ring and lock



Filed Aug. 5. 1959 INVENTOR.

FADEi/C/f W'H/PL/ E M A.

United States Patent O This invention relates to an article ofmanufacture, and more particularly to an article which may be used as akey ring or unique pocket lock.

'Key rings, of course, are well known. They usually consist of aring-shaped member for carrying keys and a catch or lock to maintain thekeys on the ring.

Thekey ringof this invention includes. the conventional ring-shapedmember and in addition comprises a unique locking means for preventingunauthorized removal of keys from the ring. The same locking meansadapts the article for use as a simple lock.

'.Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an article ofmanufacture which may be used as either a key ring or look.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel key ringwhich includes unique locking means to prevent or make difficult theremoval of keys by any except those who have knowledge of the lock.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple lockcomprising only three essential parts, and which is light in weight andrelatively simple to manufacture.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided an articlecomprising a spring-wire clip member having an arcuate portion and anelongated, relatively narrow portion extending continuously andsymmetrically from c'hordal points of said arcuate portion, whereby theclip is generally pear-shaped. One side of the elongated portion is inthe shape of a goose-neck and terminates on the other side of theelongated part in an enlarged, contoured catch. The catch receives anoverlapping end of the remainder of the elongated portion. The shape ofthe wire clip is such that the remainder of the elongated portion ismaintained under tension under the catch. Means are provided forpreventing accidental opening of the clip, comprising a helical springsurrounding the elongated portion of the clip. The inside diameter ofthe helical spring is sufiicient to permit movement of the spring fromthe elongated portion to the arcuate portion but insuflicient to permitopening of the clip. In accordance with a broad aspect of the invention,a tab is provided, located intermediate the ends of the helical spring.The tab includes an opening of sufficient size to permit it to be movedwith the spring on the clip member; the opening, however, being smallerthan the enlarged catch so as to restrict-the movement of the helicalspring in one direction only.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a locking lug isprovided at the underside of the gooseneck, and the tab is slotted toregister when in a predetermined position with the locking lug. In allother positions, the tab blocks the spring from movement in eitherdirection.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention andthe manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the inventionitself will be best understood by reference to the following descrip-Patented May 31,1960

tion of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the wire clip showing the locking tab ina position between the catch and the locking lug; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fully assembled article with a pocketchain shown attached to one end of the tab.

Referring now to the figures, the article comprises a spring-wire clipmember 1, which when in its closed position is generally in the shape ofa pear. The clip member may be made of any suitable springy material,but is preferably made of steel, plated with an attractive metal, suchas silver or chromium. The size of the clip member is variable, anddepends on the number of keys it is desired to carry. 1

The clip member comprises an arcuate portion 2 and an elongated,relatively narrow portion 3 extending continuously and symmetricallyfrom chordal points 4, 5 of the arcuate portion 2. One side 6 and aportion of the other side of the elongated portion being in the shape ofa goose-neck which terminates on the other side 7 of the elongatedportion in an enlarged, contoured catch 8.

The catch portion 8 is formed by stamping the end of the goose-neckportion, and is provided with a cradle deformation. The contoured catch8 receives an overlapping end 9 of the remainder of the elongatedportion.

The shape of the wire clip is such that it tends to assume the openposition as shown in Fig. 1, whereby when the clip is closed, theseparable parts are held under tension.

Other shapes of catches will occur to those skilled in the art, and thespecific shape illustrated is only by way of preferred example. i

If the article is to be used as a key ring, the keys are slipped overthe end 9 and supported on the arcuate portion 2 of the clip.

In order to prevent accidental or inadvertent opening of the clip, ahelical spring 10 is positioned around the elongated portion of theclip. The axial length of the helical spring is approximately equal tothe length of the elongated portion. The inside diameter of the helicalspring is selected so as to permit movement of the spring from theelongated portion to the arcuate portion, but not so large as to permitthe overlapping end of the elongated portion to become disengaged fromthe catch 8. The change in shape between the arcuate portion and theelongated portion impedes the movement of the helical spring once it ispositioned on the elongated portion. This constitutes a first lockingmeans for preventing accidental opening of the clip, whereby keys couldbe lost.

A more positive locking means is provided by a tab 11, which is locatedintermediate the ends of the helical spring, and is provided with anopening 12 of sufficient size to permit the tab 11 to be moved with thespring on the clip member.

The tab is essentially a flat piece of metal provided with one or twoopenings 12, 13, and which is sufficiently rigid to resist bending fromordinary stresses applied to a key ring. The opening 13 permits the tabto be used as a coupling link between the clip member and, for example,a pocket chain as suggested in Fig. 2. The diameter of the opening 12 isselected so as to permit the above-mentioned movement of the tab on theclip member, but is smaller than the enlarged catch 8. Thus, if the tabis located as shown in Fig. 2, the enlarged catch would resistsubstantial movement of the spring in the counter-clockwise direction sothat in order to open the clip, the spring would have to be moved in theclockwise direction or in the direction of the arrow. This tab,therefore, provides a second locking means against unintentional openingof the clip.

A third and still more positive locking meanscomprises a lug 15,preferably formed integrally on the un derside of the goose-neckportion. The tab 11 is pro vided with'a correspondingly shaped slot 16on the side normally opposite from the lug 15, and the tab is positionedbetween the lug 15 and the catch 3. In order, therefore, to open theclip, it is necessary to rotate the tab 180 degrees so that the slot 16registers with the lug 15, whereby the spring and tab may be moved awayfrom the separable portions of the clip. It is apparent, therefore, thatunless the tab 8 were rotated so as to provide registry between the slotand the lug, it would be virtually impossible to slide the spring awayfrom the catch.

. Thisunique and. simple locking means permit the article to be used asa, lock where only moderate safety is required. For example, in manyshow-cases, where at the end of the dayv the show-case doors are closed,and protection against maintenance personnel is desired, a lock of thissort would be eminently suited.

The tab is positioned simply by threading the tab on the overlapping end9; past the lug 15 and against the catch 8. The spring 10 is thensimilarly threaded on the clip member, and the clip is then closed. Thetab is positioned by rotating the tab in and around the successive turnsof the spring until the desired position is obtained.

If desired, the spring 10 may be permanently retained on the clip, afterassembly, simply by deforming a portion 17 on the clip so as to preventmovement of the tab beyond the deformed portion.

While the foregoing description sets forth the principles of theinvention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearlyunderstood that this description is made only by way of example and notas a limitation of the scope of the invention as set forth in theobjects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

2,938,375 a I i I claim:

1. An article of manufacture, comprising a spring-wire clip memberhaving an arcuate portion and an elongated relatively narrow portionextending continuously and symmetrically from chordal points of saidarcuate portion, one side and a portion of the other side of saidelongated portion being in the shape of a goose-neck and terminating onsaid other sid of said elongated portion in an enlarged contoured catchfor receiving an overlapping end of the remainder of said elongatedportion, the shape of the wire clip being such that the remainder ofsaid elongated portion is maintained under tension in said catch, ahelical spring surrounding the elongated portion of said clip and havingan inside diameter sufiicient to permit movement of the spring from theelongated portion to the arcuate portion, but insuificient to permitdisengagement between said overlapping end and said catch, and a tablocated intermediate the ends of said helical spring and provided withan opening of sufficient size to permit the tab to be moved with saidSpring on said clip member, the opening being smaller than said enlargedcatch, whereby the helical spring may be moved away from said catch inone direction only.

2. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said.helical spring has an axial length approxim'ately equal to the length ofthe two sides of said elongated portion. 7

3. The article according to claim 1, and further contprising a lockinglug formed on the underside of said goose-neck, said tab including aslot extending from said opening and corresponding in shape to said lug,whereby the tab may be moved over said lug only when the Slot is inregistry therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS629,213 Sheets July 18, 1899 2,138,994 Bassler Dec. 6 1938 2,564,242Wendt Aug. 14, 1 951 2,823,537 Segal Feb. 18, 1958

